Comments on: Understanding the teenage brain

By: Fi

Fi — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 15:05:53 +0000

Well,I have now had the pleasure to meet Dr Siegel and he is even more of a brilliant guy than I thought he was reading this post!

Thank you Penny for bringing this article to our attention!

By: Penny Boreham

Penny Boreham — Sat, 03 May 2014 09:18:23 +0000

In reply to Fi. Thanks very much Fi, Prof Dan Siegel is brilliant isn't he? Many thanks for your comments, very best, Penny

By: Penny Boreham

Penny Boreham — Sat, 03 May 2014 09:16:46 +0000

In reply to Ros.

Thanks Ros, fascinating comparison with the mediterranean countries.
Very best wishes,
Penny

By: Penny Boreham

Penny Boreham — Sat, 03 May 2014 09:15:52 +0000

In reply to Gillian. Thanks for this! I am sure you give so much to them thinking the way you do. Very best wishes, Penny

By: Gillian

Gillian — Sat, 03 May 2014 07:54:01 +0000

I am so glad that I followed my inclination to read this. It warmed my heart and resonated with so much of my treasured experience of working for 25 years with young people, first as a teacher and for the 15 years as a Counsellor. I love the energy that comes from adolescents and the speed with which they respond to therapeutic intervention. I have a 15 year old daughter and 20 year old son and their minds have fascinating effects on my own. They keep my mind alive by challenging all of my beliefs and all of my behaviours, they are excellent resources for adult personal development.
Wouldn’t it be a wonderful revolution in this country if we re- evaluated the precious resource we have in our adolescents. Lets open those evening cafes and invite them in!

By: Ros

Ros — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:04:06 +0000

This is wonderful to read about and so important ! It is so sad that in our society just as teenagers are longing to go out and be with friends that we have no places for them to go. In the evening, until you are 18 there is nowhere open where you can buy a drink (not an alcoholic drink – a coffee , any drink) and sit for a chat with friends. The result is the sad fate of youngsters literally shut out of society and having to use parks and street corners. In mediterranean countries there appear to be so many more cafes open in the evenings and places where the young can gather. It was very sad as a parent to see how badly this affects children growing up. It is time our society recognised the needs of the teenager.

By: Fi

Fi — Thu, 01 May 2014 15:29:36 +0000

This must be a first for me,having read this article I found myself in total agreement with prof. Siegel(me agreeing with a psychiatrist,is a first)I agree that it is parents and other adults who should make the effort to understand and support adolescents going through a period of great hormonal as well physical and intellectual change,which in turn affects the capacity for clear judgement by the very physical nature of adolescence taking its toll on the body.this is why teenagers have so much need for sleep,at times swapping night for day and vice versa.
We do need to think deeply,as the article concludes,about developing more communities to support our teens